Creating a Brand Anthem with Holy Rosary Credit Union

This summer Windwood was selected to help our friends at HRCU (Holy Rosary Credit Union) create a brand anthem and series of videos to coincide with a brand relaunch. We worked with the HRCU team to help script, cast, and select locations - as well as complete an overall brand anthem as well as develop additional photo and video assets which can be deployed as a part of the brand relaunch campaign.

Team Windwood setting up a shot in an HRCU Branch

“Brett and the team were incredibly collaborative, taking the time to understand our vision and turning it into a beautiful final product. Their creativity and professionalism made the process seamless. ”

— Sydney Albee | Director of Marketing

With this project we were not only able to create support videos to prop up a main anchor Brand Anthem video, we were also able to deliver over a dozen brand photos and create a supporting graphic video that helped launch their new brand identity.

Windwood is a New Hampshire video production company, we couldn’t be prouder to support local businesses like HRCU which help our community stand out.

Producing a Brand Spot with New Hampshire's Minus33 Above the Clouds

We recently partnered with Ashland, New Hampshire’s Minus33 clothing to create a series of 3 brand videos and photo assets all featuring different activities which has brought us to a number of incredible local New Hampshire Destinations.

We love partnering with New Hampshire businesses because we get an opportunity to show off our own beautiful state. For Minus33 we are able to deliver high quality photo and video content in a variety of formats to fuel their online/web funnel and social media channels and ads channels.

With on-set times well before sunrise the whole of TEAM WINDWOOD has been putting in awesome shoot days and we couldn’t be happier with the results.

Driving the Message Home with Banks Autos

Two Concord, New Hampshire businesses found each other to be the perfect fit. Banks autos, a 60 year old car dealership and granite state standout business - and Windwood Productions; Concord New Hampshire’s home town Video Production company.

Jonathan Moultroup, Bank’s Auto's Director of Marketing found Windwood through a video series Windwood produced that featured presidential hopefuls in 2020 (MSNBC profile on our series) and was surprised to find a full service video production company right here in Banks’ home town of Concord.

“What drew me to [Windwood] was the creative and artistic ability - the storytelling” - Jonathan Moultroup.

Initially contracted to create a video on their collision center, Moultroup and Brett Marshall, Windwood’s Owner/Creative Director realized there was so much more potential in showing the human side of Banks Auto’s employees. Since 2020, Windwood has helped create dozens of pieces of effective content, showcasing the people behind the scenes at Banks, and creating service overviews for a majority of the components of Banks’ business structure.

With a partnership lasting over five years, we have plenty more projects earmarked on the horizon, but for now you can view all of Windwood and Banks’ partnership videos on their website and social media channels.

Windwood Feature Documentary Selected for 2024 New Hampshire Film Festival

We’re excited to announce that Windwood’s feature length documentary, A Handmade Life, has been accepted as an official entry to the New Hampshire Film Festival.

We started filming this project back in the Fall of 2021 and could not be prouder to celebrate its premiere at the NHFF.

This documentary celebrates ten different artists in the greater New Hampshire area who all work in different mediums, and serves as a look into the passion and integrity that local artists bring to support themselves through their craft.

It feels only right to premiere this film at a festival that celebrates the state of New Hampshire and the people that make this state what it is.

View our official NHFF Page HERE

We can’t thank everyone enough who was a part of this process and helped bring this film together, along with the selection committee at the New Hampshire Film Festival that were kind enough to invite our film. Also this project would not be possible without support from our friends at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen who helped initiate and guide this journey.

We will share more details about the screening date as information is released, but we can’t wait to finally share this story with you all!

⁃ Team Windwood

The Difference Between Commercial and Editorial Style Work

As a filmmaker or photographer, if you’re working with different kinds of clients and talent, it’s important to understand the difference between commercial and editorial style work. You want to know the difference so that you can approach each kind of project differently in ways that are appropriate for the work.

Editorial

• Background

  In editorial style film and photography work, the projects are usually much more about the experience and the authenticity of the events you’re shooting. The goal with this kind of work is to capture an event, place, or adventure accurately and creatively, to display your subject in an honest and new way.

  Even if you’re working with a business, you could still be working on more editorial style work if the focus is on authenticity and capturing what’s happening.

• Tips

  For these kinds of projects it’s especially important to do your research ahead of time to know what aspects of your subject you want to capture. This way you can make sure to get yourself in the right position, at the right time to photograph or film what’s happening.

  If you’re shooting a live event for example, it’s important to know the layout of the space, the schedule of performers or activities, and what key moments you should be in place to capture. In addition to all this preparation, for these kinds of shoots you should also be constantly ready to adapt and reposition yourself to capture something unexpected.

  You’re not going to be able to capture every moment, but you want to coordinate with your team and your client so that you can capture the most important moments to be able to craft a compelling project and story.

Commercial

• Background

  Commercial work is more focused on crafting specific kinds of images for a client, business, or brand. In commercial work, you want to communicate with the business you’re working with and know exactly what story they’re looking to tell and craft for their image.

  
  The important part of commercial work is connecting to the company’s brand identity and personality. You’re working with the client to construct the narrative that will work best. In a sense, it’s like you're creating video or photos that are “based on a true story”, as opposed to documenting things as they happen.

  You still want to stay true to the company and the people involved, but the whole team has more control over crafting the creative vision and adjusting events as they happen.

• Tips

  Similar to editorial work, you still want to do your research when working on commercial style work. Instead of researching the event, subject, or activity, you instead want to focus on researching the business you’re working with, the style of campaign/project you’re discussing, and what similar kinds of work have been done before.

  In commercial style work you want to determine how you can best convey the business’ image with the video or photo project you’re working on. You should work with your creative team, and the business, to plan a project shoot that will fit with their brand.

  
  On the days of your shoot, you still need to be ready to adapt, like with editorial work, but in different ways. On a commercial shoot, don’t be afraid to manipulate the situation to create a better product. If you’re filming a promotional video for a coffee shop for example, and you’re shooting one of the barista’s pouring a cup of coffee, ask them to pour it in different ways, do multiple takes, and reposition them until you get the shot you want.

In the growing digital age we live in, images, both still and moving, are more and more important for all kinds of work. Whether you’re working on editorial, commercial, or other styles of work, just remember to communicate with your clients about what visions they have so you can work together to make engaging projects that are appropriate for each situation.

At Windwood, we make all different kinds of work and do our best to tailor our style to match the visions of our clients. If you want examples of the kinds of work we’ve done, check out our work here. If you want help with your own project, you can contact us here.

How to Get Your Drone License

One growing part of the video production world is drone photography and videography. Whether you want to fly a drone for recreation, or for commercial purposes, it’s required that you register your drone. Additionally if you plan on flying commercially, you also need to get a drone pilot license.

The registration and licensing processes are listed out on the Federal Aviation Association website (FAA), but it can be confusing if you’re new to the process. However, we made a simplified guide to help you out.

Before you get started, there are some general restrictions that the (FAA) has put in place in order to be a registered drone pilot. 

• Pilot Restrictions

• Must be 16 years or older

• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English

• Be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone

• Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam

If you meet the first three requirements, then you can proceed to the actual licensing process. 

• Step 1: Register

The first step is just to register, and create a profile with the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application. This will enable you to get an FAA tracking number as well. You need to do this so that you can register for an exam to get your drone license.

• Step 2: Schedule an Exam

Once you’re all registered and you have an FAA tracking number, you can sign up for a time to take the exam at your nearest exam center. You can check out the website here to find a testing center close to you, and register for an exam time. Make sure you sign up for the “Unmanned Aircraft General” (UAG) exam. Also make sure you bring a government-issued photo ID with you to the exam.

• Step 3: Study for and Pass the Exam

The next step is to prepare for the exam. There are lots of online courses and study guides to help you out. There are free options like the official FAA study guide pdf, and paid courses (both books and videos) that you can find online. There are lots of free options out there, so we recommend finding the best cost free option for you (whether that’s the FAA pdf, or a course on YouTube).

• Step 4: Send a Certificate Request

Once you’ve passed your exam, now you need to send a request form to get your actual pilot certificate. You’re going to go back to the IACRA website where you first created your account, and create a new application for a “remote pilot”. You’re going to need to fill out a 17-digit confirmation number from your test results, so you’ll need to wait to register until that number appears in your IACRA account. 

• Step 5: Wait for Confirmation

After you request your pilot certificate, the TSA will conduct a security background check. You should get a confirmation email when that check is complete. That confirmation email will also send you a temporary pilot certificate that you can use to start flying your drone. Then in anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months, you should receive your physical pilot certificate in the mail.

• Step 7: Register Your Drone

Before you finally get to flying your drone, you also want to make sure you register your drone. Head to the FAA website here to register your drone so you can finally start flying!

• Step 8: Fly Your Drone

Now that you have your pilot certificate and you’ve registered your drone, now you can go out and actually fly it! Remember to look up drone regulations wherever you’re going to be flying, so you know what additional permits you might need to fly in certain areas. Also remember to bring your pilot certificate with you when you fly. When you first get started, go to a big open space where you can practice flying and get used to different maneuvers. Then once you’re comfortable you can try flying in tighter spaces so that you’re ready for anything on your video or photo shoots.

While this process might seem daunting at first, it’s important to be an informed and aware drone pilot. This registration and testing process will hopefully give you the knowledge you need to be able to go out and fly your drone safely in any appropriate situation. Take it step by step, and before you know it you’ll be getting beautiful footage from the sky!

If you want help with your own project, or want a drone photographer or videographer, check out our own drone work and contact us about your project!

Promoting Your Business: Different Kinds of Video Content

You have a business and you’re looking to promote it with some video content, but you’re not sure what kind of video you want to create. There are all kinds of video styles, and lengths, but you want to choose whatever is best for your particular situation and business.

Here are some different styles of videos that might suit your business:

• Corporate Video

  One video option you have is creating a corporate, interview style promotional video. If you’re looking to just create a broad promotional video that encompasses the big ideas behind your business, this could be the right option for you.

  These videos usually involve interviews with business owners, employees, or trusted customers that understand not just your business, but the greater community behind it. You can mix these interviews with footage of your business actually running and functioning to give potential customers a picture of what it would be like to be a part of your community.

• Commercial Video

  Commercial style videos range more in terms of the types of content and style. You can create product videos that highlight the aesthetic or functionality of a new item you’ve released, you can stage a narrative video related to your business, or you can promote an event or campaign that your business is taking part in.

  Commercial videos don’t need to talk directly about your business or products, but can serve as creative ways of engaging your community and drawing more interest.

• Testimonials

  Another type of video approach is a simple video testimonial. If you’re not looking for anything particularly fancy and you just want to have video content that promotes your business, you can always sit down with a trusted customer and interview them about why they like your business.

  
  Video testimonials are usually different from corporate style videos because they’re more like positive customer reviews. For more on video testimonials, check out our blog post.

No matter what your business is, there are all different approaches to creating video content surrounding it. If none of these video styles speak to you, get creative. As long as you have the resources, you can always try to experiment with new ways of promoting your business.

If you want to see any examples, check out our video production pages. Additionally, if you have any questions, or need help with your own project, contact us here!

Camera Stabilization: Tripods, monopods, gimbals, and more

Whether you’re looking to place your camera on a stationary object like a tripod, or you’re looking to capture lot’s of dynamic movement with a stabilizer, there are things you should know to get the best quality out of your camera equipment.

Each piece of equipment is a specialized tool designed for specific jobs. This means you want to know how to approach using each tool, so that you can pick the right ones for your next video shoot.

• Tripod

  First up is the tripod. Arguably one of the “simplest” of camera tools, the tripod has three legs with adjustable heights that allows you to secure your camera at a fixed height and location. While it’s easy enough to just set your camera on a tripod and hit record, you can get more out of using your tripod if you plan ahead.

  Before you start filming you should ask yourself why you’re filming with a tripod and what that will add to your scene. Maybe you’re filming a talking head interview and you want a static, well composed shot of your interview subject. In that case you want to place your tripod at a height where your camera will be right around eye level. This will put your viewer level with your subject, making it easier to relate to them. Additionally you can use your tripod for low, or high angle shots for different emotional effects.

  Tripods are also good tools for slow pans or tilts. Most tripods allow you to loosen or tighten different joints for smooth movement. Higher quality tripods also add measures of drag or resistance so you can adjust how easy it is to pan or tilt the camera to get the smoothest motions. Before you start filming though, we recommend practicing with your tripod and finding what adjustments you need to make so that you are most comfortable once you actually start shooting.

• Monopod

  Monopods, while typically more for photography than videography, can still be a useful tool. Generally monopods are great for stationary shots when you want to have a little more movement to give a feeling of the camera being handheld. Monopods are also very light and mobile, so they are a great tool for any long shoot where you need to be able to be very mobile. This might be the right tool if you’re shooting a live event like a concert or a wedding and want some additional stabilization to your shots while constantly moving to different locations.

• Slider

  Now moving to tools that can give you more dynamic movement, we have the slider. Sliders are tracks that allow you to slide your camera in one of two directions. There are manual sliders which mean you move the camera yourself, and automatic sliders, where you set a beginning and end point and the camera moves on its own. Sliders are great for studio shoot situations where you’ll be in the same place for a long period of time. In order to use a slider you usually need two tripods to prop up either side of the slider. This means it can take a while to get everything set up.

  Once you’re all set up, sliders are ideal for adding slow dramatic movement to a scene. If you’re shooting a product video, you can have one continuous shot that moves from one side of a product to another. If you’re filming an interview, you can add a slow moving parallax shot where you keep your subject in the same part of the frame while the background seemingly moves behind them. All of these options will transform your shot from being static and simple, to dynamic and more engaging.

• Glidecam

  The next tool is the glidecam. Glidecams are weighted, mobile camera stabilizers that allow you to get smoother footage while moving with the camera. Glidecams are a great non-motorized camera stabilizer for mobile shots.

  If you’re looking to film things with a lot of action like dancing or sports, or you just want to add more motion to something a little more static like a live concert, then a glidecam is a great option. While all camera equipment takes time to master, glidecams in particular require a lot of practice, trial, and error. It takes a while to get used to balancing the camera and keeping your subjects in frame while you’re moving. If you do invest in a glidecam, spend a lot of time practicing with it until you’re comfortable and confident using it on important shoots.

• Motorized Gimbal

  A similar option to the glidecam is a motorized gimbal. Motorized gimbals give you a similar kind of mobile stabilization, while also giving you more options with the ability to move your camera electronically. There are advantages and disadvantages to manual gimbals and motorized gimbals. Generally manual stabilizers are slightly better at creating smooth, natural feeling motion, while motorized gimbals give you more flexibility in ways that you can move your camera creatively (like performing a 360 degree camera roll).

When you’re picking new equipment to buy or film with, consider what things you’ll be filming and what tool will best suit you for those situations. If you’re looking to film weddings where you’ll be moving around a lot and need to work quickly, you might want a glidecam, motorized gimbal, or monopod. If you’re filming product videos and studio interviews, maybe you want a tripod, or a slider (which means you need two tripods).

After you have your equipment, go out and practice shooting. Get used to your new equipment so that you’re better prepared for your important projects. If you want examples of our own work, we use a combination of these tools in lots of our videos. Additionally you can contact us for help with your own project.

How to Improve Your Product Videos

Since we’ve revamped our indoor studio at Windwood we’ve been able to shoot a lot more product videos. If you’re jumping more into product photography or videography like we are, then we have some tips to help you narrow down ideas for your shoots.

• Crafting Your Setting

1. One of the most important aspects of product videos is preparing a relevant style and color scheme. Take the time to talk with your client and research the product (or product line) that you’re promoting. Is the product in line with the company’s past work, and if so what kinds of promotional material have they made in the past? You want to be sure that you align with the appropriate color schemes and styles that fit for this particular product and brand.

2. Once you know what style and colors you’re looking for, it’s time to prepare your set. You want to coordinate an appropriate backdrop, table covering, and any additional props that might fit with the product. Think about what will complement the product and emphasize any points you want to make. If the product has bright colors on it, then you could stick with a solid dark color background so that the product stands out. Alternatively if the product is more simple, you can add background objects around it that spice up the image like product stands, fruits, beads, sand, etc.

3. Since product videos are often short glimpses into a company’s branding, it’s also especially important to find the right music. Really take your time and find something that suits this particular product and brand. Your goal should be to help shape the viewer's perspective of this product. Should you strike a serious tone or is this product more focused on a laid back style? Additionally, make sure to record and include sound effects that enhance the feel of the product, like the drip of condensation, or the perfect pour of a drink.

• Camera and Visuals

1. Once you have your background and maybe even your music all set up, it is equally important to set up an effective lighting layout. You want to make sure that all sides of the product and the background are well lit and look appealing. We recommend setting up at least a traditional 3 point lighting setup. This includes a key light in front lighting up the subject (slightly to the side of your camera), a fill light to help balance out any shadows created by the key light, and then a backlight behind the subject to help give the subject more depth. If you have control over color temperature you should also make sure to choose something appropriate for your product that matches the rest of your color scheme.

2. Most products that you’re going to film aren’t going to move dynamically on their own. That’s why you should focus on finding creative ways to include dynamic movement into your product video. This could mean actually moving your camera in creative ways, like a dolly in shot to set the scene. Additionally though you can move the object. One common method is to use a turntable. This is great for beverages and other tall container items that look good spinning.

3. In addition to setting up your lighting and planning dynamic movements, you also want to make sure you film with the right lenses. Just like shooting portraits, different lenses will have different effects on your subject. If you have a lot of different objects in your studio setup and you want to compress the depth of the image, then you want to use a longer lens. Longer lenses are also generally more flattering for people and products. Alternatively though, if you want to capture an image closer to what your eye sees, or give a little bit more depth to your image, you can shoot with wider or medium length lenses. Experiment and find what works best for your particular product.

Just like any other video style, product videography just takes planning and practice. Get out some materials in your house or studio and have fun with it. The more you practice, the easier things will be when you need to shoot a video for a client.

If you want more examples of our own studio work, check out our studio page. Alternatively, if you want help with your next product video, or studio project, contact us here.

Working with Shadows: Outdoor Photography Part 2

If you’re a photographer, chances are you’re going to occasionally shoot in natural light. Some people love working in natural light, while others are frustrated by it. The trouble is, you don’t have full control so it’s difficult to make sure your subject is well lit. Despite these difficulties, outdoor and natural light photography can be really rewarding.

If you struggle with natural lighting, or are just looking for additional tips, here are some strategies you can use on your next shoot.

• Positioning your subject

  If you’re working with natural light, it means you’re working with the sun. If you’re photographing people (or any smaller subject that you can move around) one of the simplest things you can do to adjust your lighting, is to reposition your subject.

  Depending on what kind of effect you’re looking for, you can position the sun in front of or behind your subject. You want to use the sun to your advantage as much as possible. This means that sometimes the best way to add more light to your photo is just to move to a different spot for your photo.

• Additional lighting

  If repositioning yourself or your subject isn’t much of an option, we recommend bringing additional lighting with you for your outdoor shoots. If you’re working in a small space the whole day, you might be able to bring studio quality lighting. However, if you’re on the move, bring small supplemental lighting.

  There are all kinds of products like Lumecubes and strobe lights which can help you add light to your shots. Worst comes to worst you can also resort to using headlamps or flashlights with the right color temperatures to fill out the lighting on your subject. 

  If you’re working on portrait photography, we would also recommend bringing a reflector. Sometimes the most effective way to get more light on your subject is to bounce sunlight the direction you need it to go.

• Equipment

  Another strategy for working with natural light is working with different kinds of cameras and camera lenses. Depending on the situation you might need lenses that are better suited for low lighting, like wider prime (fixed) lenses with low aperture capabilities.

  Ideally you want to shoot the best possible image in camera so that you have more to work with once you get to the editing room. This means we would recommend shooting raw files as often as you can, and working with your exposure and focus settings to get the best image possible.

• Postproduction

  You should deal with most or all of your lighting problems while you’re actually on location shooting, but you can make minor adjustments in post production. If you’re shooting on an especially bright sunny day for example, we would recommend slightly underexposing your image. You can always bump up the exposure in post, but you don’t want to blow out your images if you overexpose them in camera.

  Additionally, if you come back from a shoot and you need to boost some of the shadows on someone’s face in a few photos, you can work with highlight and shadow masks to make minor adjustments on your photos. This should allow you to bring out highlights on their face (particularly their eyes) to bring viewers attention to your subject. Remember though, that you should focus on all major decisions and issues in camera while you’re shooting, and simply use the post production process as a way to refine what you already have.

Hopefully by supplementing bits of all these strategies you can adjust to taking photos with natural light and enjoy the process! We work with natural light all the time, so if you want some fun examples, check out our photography page. Additionally if you need help with your photo shoot, contact us here.